Celeste Rivas Hernandez household requires D4vd to face demise penalty – NBC Los Angeles

The household of Celeste Rivas Hernandez issued an announcement Monday calling for singer and TikTok star D4vd to face the demise penalty for the 14-year-old lady’s homicide.

D4vd, whose actual title is David Burke, was ordered by a choose final month to face trial within the killing of the teenager, whose stays have been discovered a 12 months in the past within the entrance trunk of his deserted Tesla.

In an announcement launched Monday on Celeste’s birthday, her household stated, “If the demise penalty have been activated, it will be good for this type of human being, devoid of emotions and vacancy inside, and with out conscience, who solely prompted ache to our daughter, our household, and the world that helps our treasured daughter.”

Los Angeles County District Legal professional Nathan Hochman has stated attainable sentences, if Burke is convicted as charged, embrace life in jail with out the opportunity of parole or the demise penalty. A choice will likely be made at a later date.

NBC Information reached out to Burke’s legal professional for remark.

Burke was charged with first-degree homicide, together with particular circumstances allegations that may improve sentencing penalties. He additionally faces one depend every of steady sexual abuse of a kid below the age of 14 and illegal mutilation of human stays.

The particular circumstances allegations in opposition to Burke embrace fee of the crime for monetary achieve. Prosecutors stated the allegation stems from the singer’s music profession, which was being threatened by his alleged sexual relationship with the underage lady. Celeste was thought of the important thing witness in that investigation, warranting the allegation of murdering a witness, he stated.

Protection attorneys for singer David “D4vd” Burke declare the teenage sufferer’s dad and mom have been conscious of a relationship between the defendant and sufferer. NBC4 Investigates’ Eric Leonard stories for the NBC4 Information at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 27, 2026,

Burke pleaded not responsible Aug. 31 to the costs after a preliminary listening to in July when prosecutors offered a major quantity of proof, together with cellphone content material, textual content messages and extra.

The following continuing within the case is a standing convention on Oct. 19. A trial can be held inside 90 days of that date.

The Lake Elsinore lady’s household launched a separate assertion final week, addressing partially the project of a public defender to symbolize Burke, which the household stated was “unfathomable.” Burke was assigned the brand new legal professional finally month’s listening to after now-former legal professional Blair Berk informed the choose that her crew needs to step down as counsel.

Deputy Public Defender Walid Kandeel was appointed to symbolize Burke.

“The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Workplace has been appointed to symbolize David Burke,” Kandeel stated after the Aug. 31 listening to. “We acknowledge the lack of life underlying the allegations and prolong our sympathies to those that are grieving. On the identical time, David Burke is entitled to a protection that takes his circumstances severely and thoroughly examines the proof. We’re dedicated to offering him with that protection.

The household additionally stated they’ve skilled “so many feelings” and proceed to relive “unforgettable moments although (Celeste) is now not right here.”

Prosecutors tried to point out that the singer killed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez to keep up his monetary property. Eric Leonard stories for the NBC4 Information at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

“These are emotions that solely a father and mom and her siblings can share, with a heavy coronary heart,” the household stated. “We’ll all the time keep in mind each second and each good time we spent with Celestita.”

Burke was arrested April 16 within the months-long investigation that started after decomposing stays have been found in September 2025 contained in the storage space of his deserted Tesla. The automobile was impounded after it had been parked for an prolonged interval in a Hollywood Hills neighborhood not removed from a rental property the place Burke had been dwelling.

Police stated Celeste’s demise probably occurred within the spring of final 12 months. The medical expert’s workplace stated the reason for demise was a number of penetrating accidents brought on by and object or objects, which signifies a stabbing.

Celeste, who disappeared within the Lake Elsinore space in 2024, was recognized by means of forensics. She had been final seen April 5, 2024, within the western Riverside County group.

Burke was ordered to face trial after a five-day listening to in July when a major quantity of proof was offered within the case. Disturbing pictures, particulars from forensics investigators and textual content messages, some from the night time authorities stated they imagine Celeste was killed, have been proven by prosecutors.

Prosecutors methodically offered proof that included an in depth yearslong timeline of interactions between Burke and Celeste at ages 12, 13 and 14.

Textual content exchanges offered on the July listening to included a number of from April 22 and 23, 2025, the date prosecutors stated they imagine Celeste was killed. They included messages during which Celeste threatened to finish D4vd’s profitable music profession and the 2 argued over Burke’s relationship with one other lady or lady.

The singer ordered chainsaws by way of Amazon, in keeping with prosecutors. Eric Leonard stories for the NBC4 Information at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.

Celeste’s decomposed physique was discovered Sept. 8, 2025, after staff at Hollywood Tow reported a robust odor coming from the Tesla registered to the singer. Officers opened the entrance trunk, also called a frunk, and located the stays in two cadaver luggage.

They have been discovered a day after what would have been Celeste’s fifteenth birthday.

The “Romantic Murder” singer’s world tour was in Minneapolis on the time of the invention with a cease in Kansas Metropolis the following day. A consultant informed NBCLA on the time that D4vd was cooperating with authorities of their investigation.

D4vd is a singer-songwriter who rose to fame with viral hits on TikTok, the place he has 3.8 million followers. That success led to signings with Darkroom and Interscope Information.

Born in Queens, New York, Burke moved to Texas in his early teenagers and gained a following on YouTube taking part in Fortnite and different on-line video games. He began creating unique music, a few of which went viral on TikTok.

D4vd launched his debut album “Withered” in April 2025 and launched into a world tour.

In an interview on the “Zach Sang Present,” D4vd stated the 4 substituted for the a in his title was for search-engine optimization and a illustration of 4 cinematic universes with varied characters that he was creating.